More than
22,000 people attended the annual music festival over the bank holiday weekend.

Steve Adams,
Tearfund's head of global brand and communications, said: "Disasters
reduce people's ability to live safely and have an impact on health and a
family's ability to earn a living.

"We are
grateful for the generous response of festival-goers to the campaign, which
will help communities affected by the complex consequences of disaster."

Tearfund will help provide meals and support people
to go on to lead more secure and fulfilled lives.

Every pledge of
a regular gift made at Big Church Day Out will be matched for the first 12
months up to the value of Tearfund's
target of one million meals.

Will Torrent, a
Tearfund ambassador and award-winning chocolatier and pâtissier, gave a baking
masterclass at the festival, and shared the story of Amarech, a mother of seven
that he met during a visit to Ethiopia.

Amarech's
family had suffered after erratic weather patterns and El Niño
resulted in two failed harvests. With support from Tearfund, Amarech was able
to join a self-help group and improve her circumstances.

Amarech said: "We
were in darkness. Our lives were difficult and we borrowed from lenders at high
rates when we faced emergencies.

"With the self-help group, we know how to better manage our
resources - seed, grain and money. We save for difficult days."

Tearfund continues to work to relieve the
suffering of people in the Sahel region in Africa through interventions such as
long-term support for livelihoods, farming and self-help
groups, alongside emergency food aid.

The organisation is currently appealing for
funds through its Give Like Jesus campaign.

Will commented:
"It was incredible to see how Tearfund works through local
churches to unlock people's potential and in doing so, helps them discover new
ways to help themselves.

"The self-help groups in
particular are clearly having a very positive impact on communities in
Ethiopia. Seeing the support
for Tearfund's Give Like Jesus campaign this weekend made me realise there are
thousands of generous people with a real passion to help others like
Amarech."